Traveling and learning

On Sunday, we left our friends, John and Jane, and started heading south from Ohio...

Along I-77, we saw a strange marker indicating the "Crash Site" and the name of a USS ship (Carl thought it was "Sheridan"). Unfortunately, we didn't see it early enough to get a photo. We were in the midst of mountains in southern Ohio, and we figured that if a US Navy ship had gotten to that point inland, it was certainly a little lost and we were amazed it had made it that far without crashing!  But we persevered with research using Google Maps for the area:

Sure enough, it looks like there is a marker there, and... if you go to the Google map (Google map link), you'll see an outline marked too.

We eventually found that it was a memorial for the USS Shenandoah:

USS Shenandoah was the first of four United States Navy rigid airships. It was constructed during 1922–1923 at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, and first flew in September 1923. It developed the U.S. Navy's experience with rigid airships and made the first crossing of North America by airship. On the 57th flight, Shenandoah was destroyed in a squall line over Ohio in September 1925.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Shenandoah_(ZR-1))

 This marked position is site #2:

Site No. 2 (where the stern came to rest) is one-half mile (0.80 km) southwest of Site No. 1 across Interstate 77 in Noble Township. The rough outline of the stern is marked with a series of concrete blocks, and a sign marking the site is visible from the freeway. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Shenandoah_(ZR-1)#Crash_of_Shenandoah)

So... if you're ever driving I-77 south out of Ohio, be on the watch for the memorial site! 

Soon...

... we entered West Virginia!

The tree colors in West Virginia were a little past peak, but it was still a pretty drive.

A few hours later, we entered Virginia via I-64.

... and though the trees weren't quite brilliant, we appreciated our view of the aptly-named Blue Ridge Mountains.

We continue our journey!